Updates and resources from the office of Councilmember Brad Lander

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Dear John

The good news is vaccines are on their way. That is miraculous (and we owe a huge tribute to the science and scientists who made it possible. But the bad news is still very worrisome: COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates are skyrocketing.

We can’t ease up now. We all need to use that miracle to fuel ourselves as we double down on social distancing and mask wearing through the holiday season. Hard as that is, this is what we must do if we want, collectively, to save the lives of our neighbors.

Two vaccines are headed for FDA review and approval in the coming weeks, and if all goes well, the first doses for 170,000 people will be arriving in New York as early as December 15. The plans ([link removed]) that the city and state have laid out prioritize distribution first to people in nursing homes, too many of whom we have lost already to this virus, and health care workers. First responders, frontline essential workers and teachers are in the second phase priority group. It will take some time before everyone in the general public can be vaccinated, and we must ensure that everyone has access to it. The New York Times has an interactive tool ([link removed]) if you want to see where you might be in the line.

But I’m worried that some of us -- including Governor Cuomo, who’s unwilling to close indoor dining, bars, gyms -- are taking the vaccine news as an invitation to just shrug our way until the vaccine comes.

Let’s be clear: if we go that way, thousands of our neighbors will die needlessly, and thousands more will be living with the reverberations of the virus for years. A lot of people have died and we risk getting desensitized to it. Each lost life deserves a story like this moving remembrance ([link removed]) .

And it is those who are most vulnerable who will suffer the most. An outbreak was reported yesterday in the Metropolitan Detention Center -- we’ve known from the beginning that people in jails and prisons are uniquely at risk, with little opportunity to distance in the unhealthiest of places. The virus won’t stay inside those walls, but will continue to spread throughout our communities.

Look, it’s hard. Especially at holiday time. I have not always been perfect in my own behavior. And it’s true there is no such thing as zero risk. But by returning to our most careful practices, hunkering down until the vaccine comes, we will be able to celebrate together at what we did for each other.

So: stay apart, wear masks, get tested.

Brad

Updates and Resources
* Latest Virus Data: In NYC, there were 3,305 new cases reported yesterday with 174 people admitted to hospitals. We have lost 24,305 people in NYC from the virus, including sadly 8 in the last day, and 325,806 total cases have been identified in the city since the start of the pandemic. The citywide 7-day rolling average of positive test rates is 5.19%, with a daily rate of 3.9% today.
* Vaccines Coming: Governor Cuomo announced this week that if all goes as expected with FDA approval, New York will be getting 170,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine as soon as December 15.
* Get Tested: Test sites are being expanded across the city still. Find a site here ([link removed]) .
* Give Blood: New York City is running low on blood and asking residents who can to donate blood to help save lives. You can make an appointment at www.nybc.org/donate.
* Donate Devices for Students: Tens of thousands of NYC students still don’t have the devices they need to participate in remote learning. If you need a device or have devices to offer, please fill out this form ([link removed]) and spread the word.
* Winter Clothing and Toy Drive: Assemblymember Bobby Carroll is collecting winter clothing and toys for a holiday drive with CAMBA and CHiPS. You can drop off donations at 416 7th Avenue. More here ([link removed]) .
* Free Masks and Hand Sanitizer: Our office has masks and sanitizer to distribute, email us at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to coordinate.
* Repurposing Bags: We are still collecting Fresh Direct and other reusable bags for use by emergency food providers. You can drop bags off at the following sites and times. Please fold them neatly before you drop them off.
+ Park Slope: 256 13th St, M-F, 9 AM to 6 PM
+ Carroll Gardens: 71 3rd Pl, M-F, 9 AM to 6 PM
+ Cobble Hill: 359 Henry St, Mon-Wed, 9 AM to 6 PM
+ Kensington: 3 Avenue C, Saturdays at 4 PM

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Contact us:
District 39
456 5th Ave Ste 3
Brooklyn, NY 11215-4076
USA
[email protected]
718-499-1090

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